Date of Issue: 8th January 2025
Country: Republic of Sierra Leone
Name of Project: Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project
Consulting Services: For Recruitment of a Consulting Firm for the development of a national drone policy and strategy and drone use case landscape review and prioritization in Sierra Leone. Reference No: SL-MOF-462336-CS-QCBS.
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- Introduction
The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) has committed to transforming its economy based on a more inclusive and human-centric digital growth and development approach. A high-level vision for the digital economy is articulated in the new National Digital Development Policy (NDDP), which was approved by the Cabinet in December 2021 setting the GoSL’s vision to transform Sierra Leone into an inclusive digital economy and society and to leverage digital technology to support the GoSL to deliver on its national development plan effectively and efficiently. The Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP) aims to expand access to broadband internet, increase digital skills, and improve government capacity to deliver public services digitally. The project will support the development of a strong enabling environment for the nation’s digital transformation and digital development agenda as articulated in the National Digital Development Strategy.
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- Objectives
Sierra Leone is in a unique position in West Africa concerning drones. Due to the progressive and technology focused policies of the administration of H.E. President Maada Bio the country is currently a leader in the sector. Sierra Leone is currently host to West Africa’s only National Drone Corridor, which serves as a dedicated space for innovation and testing of drone hardware and use cases. The Sierra Leone Drone Corridor is a joint project of the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI), the UNICEF Office of Innovation New York, UNICEF Sierra Leone Country Office, and Njala University.
By prioritizing the needs of Sierra Leoneans, this project will explore the potential of drones in key sectors including agriculture, disaster risk management, environment, and health. The goal of this project is to unlock the potential of drones for these and other crucial sectors in Sierra Leone.
The general objective of this activity is to enhance digital service delivery in Sierra Leone through the operationalization of drones across priority sectors and use cases.
Specifically, the assignment focuses on two key areas:
A. Drone use case mapping, prioritization, and needs assessment
- Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment using stakeholder consultations and data analysis to identify opportunities for drones and avenues to their operationalization.
- Prioritize potential drone use cases based on the needs assessment, their operational and regulatory feasibility, and their alignment with the GoSL’s Big Five Game Changers: 2024 – 2030.
- Identify elements necessary to the successful operationalization of the chosen priority use cases, including policy, community engagement strategies, technology requirements, and likely timelines and costs.
B. Development of a National Drone Policy and Strategy
- Identify potential linkages with existing national and donor strategies, plans, legislation, policies and programmes associated with drone operations;
- Develop a National Drone Policy and Strategy to guide the operationalization of drones across identified priority use cases in Sierra Leone as a blueprint for their use in other sectors.
The Project Coordination Unit of the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The shortlisting criteria are core business and years in business, relevant experience, and technical and managerial capability of the firm. Key Experts will not be evaluated at the shortlisting stage.
The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers July 2016 Revised November 2017, August 2018, November 2020, September 2023, and National Public Procurement Act 2016, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.
Consultants may associate with other firms to enhance their qualifications but should indicate clearly whether the association is in the form of a joint venture and/or a sub-consultancy. In the case of a joint venture, all the partners in the joint venture shall be jointly and severally liable for the entire contract, if selected.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Base Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.
Further information and detailed Terms of Reference can be obtained at the link below: https://mocti.gov.sl/recruitment-of-a-consulting-firm-for-the-development-of-a-national-drone-policy-and-strategy-and-drone-use-case-landscape-review-and-prioritization-in-sierra-leone/
Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below by e-mail on or before 24th January 2025 at 12:00 GMT.
Project Coordination Unit
Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project
Attn: The Project Coordinator
8th Floor,
Youyi Building
E-mail: procurement@sldtp.moic.gov.sl CC: coordinator@sldtp.mocti.gov.sl
Please indicate clearly the Name of the Assignment in the email subject heading and attachment as only electronic submission will be